28
Layla
I love the movie. Even with Big J next to me quoting half the lines. It may even add more to the experience. It’s adorable. And the entire time, I get to sit between two amazing guys. I’m a lucky girl.
Liam gets up to put our snacks away and use the bathroom, leaving me alone with Jackson. We discuss the movie, and he appreciates all of my honesty and feedback. The way he becomes so animated when he recaps his favorite parts is precious.
He has his favorite little blue truck on the seat next to him. The one that brought us all together when he lost it that fateful day. I eye it, itching to know more.
“How long have you had your truck for?” I ask him curiously, nodding toward it.
He looks over and grabs it, clutching it to his chest. His sandy brown hair flops over his brow as he tilts his head down toward it, and I sense him starting to close up.
“A long time,” he says sadly. Hesitant. “I don’t really remember, but…Uncle Liam says it’s the last toy my dad got me.”
My heart breaks for this sweet, happy, lively boy all over again. He holds onto that little toy truck because it’s the last thing he got from his father before he died. I want to cry, but I hold back the tears. I don’t want to overwhelm him.
It’s not fair, the card he was dealt in life. While Liam is amazing with him, nothing can heal the wound of losing a pair of loving parents. It can only put a bandage on a cut that will never heal. And I know that Liam’s heart still aches over the loss of his sister too. I think he’s always put on a brave face for the kid, putting himself second no matter what. I blink a few times to push back the liquid gathering in my eyes. Crying in front of him over it will do him no good.
“I lost my parents too, you know.”
He looks at me with curious eyes.
“You did?”
“Yeah. A little over a year ago. So, we have that in common.” It’s not something anyone would hope to bond over, but here we are.
He smiles sadly, his brown eyes looking at me with something like trust in them. He’s happy to have that camaraderie between us, I think.
“I just know they are watching down on us all the time though. Yours probably even have your favorite movie memorized by now.”
His chocolate eyes brighten at the thought of that. “You think so?”
“Definitely.” I smile, nodding. He leans into me, and we continue watching the cartoon we put on after the movie ended. I look back for a moment, sensing a pair of eyes on me. Liam is standing in the kitchen, watching us with his arms crossed. I wonder how long he’s been listening. His face is serious, but when I meet his eyes, the corner of his lip tugs up a little.
I turn back to the television, and a bittersweet feeling washes over me. I miss being part of a family, I realize.